Collection Guide
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Hart (Alfred A.) Stereographs of the Central Pacific Railroad
PC RM Hart
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
California Historical Society
Title: Alfred A. Hart Stereographs of the Central Pacific Railroad
Creator:
Hart, Alfred A.
Identifier/Call Number: PC RM Hart
Physical Description:
0.5 box
Date (inclusive): circa 1865-1869
Abstract: Stereographs of the Central Pacific Railroad taken by Alfred A. Hart depicting the construction and surrounding landscape
of the Central Pacific Railroad in northern California and Nevada between 1862-1869.
Language of Material: Collection materials are in English.
Alfred A. Hart was born in Connecticut in 1816. In 1865 he was commissioned to photograph the construction of the Central
Pacific Railroad (CPRR) and was promoted to the CPRR's official photographer in 1866. Hart would photograph along the CPRR
line in the summers between 1865 and 1868. Hart was terminated from the CPRR in 1869. He died in 1908 in Alameda County, California.
Collection is open for research.
Materials in this collection, which were created in 1865-1869, are in the public domain in the United States. Permission to
publish or reproduce is not required.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Provenance unknown for many of the stereographs in this collection. Other stereographs from this collection are identified
as being donated by Luke Fay; George D. Lyman; and Alexander Thomas Leonard M.D.
[Identification of item, date]; Alfred A. Hart Stereographs of the Central Pacific Railroad, PC-RM-Hart; [box number, folder
number]; California Historical Society.
Contains seventy stereographs depicting views of the construction and surrounding landscape of the Central Pacific Railroad
in northern California and Nevada. Includes a downtown San Francisco view, a photo of the interior hallway of E.B. Crocker's
Sacramento residence, and a group portrait of Paiute people. Images in this collection were photographed and published for
the Central Pacific Railroad Company.
Backs of stereographs are labeled with advertising for various photographic series taken and published by Alfred A. Hart including:
Scenes in the Sierra Nevada Mountains; Scenes in the Washoe Range; Scenes in the Valley of the Sacramento; Scenes on the Humboldt
River. Most stereographs labeled on back: Alfred A. Hart, Golden State Photographic Gallery, No. 65 J Street, corner of Third,
Sacramento, California.
Collection is arranged into two series. The first series, California, Central Pacific Railroad, circa 1865-1867, contains
stereographs showing construction and locations of the Central Pacific Railroad. Each card is labeled "California" along the
right edge of the stereograph, and photographs depict locations in California, except for three stereographs which depict
Nevada. The second series, Nevada, Central Pacific Railroad, circa 1865-1867, contains stereographs labeled "Nevada" along
the right edge of the stereograph. These images all depict locations in Nevada County, California.
Title of stereographs supplied by photographer unless otherwise noted.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Railroads -- Design and construction -- Pictorial works
Railroads -- California, Northern -- Pictorial works
Railroads -- Nevada -- Pictorial works
Paiute Indians -- Pictorial works
San Francisco (Calif.) -- Pictorial works
Stereographs
Indigenous peoples -- West (U.S.) -- Pictorial works
Central Pacific Railroad Company--Pictorial works